Miranda/Laila's POV I leaned back in my office chair, the weight of the day’s events pressing heavily on my shoulders. The board meeting had gone as expected, but it had drained every ounce of my energy. The confrontation with Mara and her mother still lingered in my mind, their shocked expressions a satisfying yet exhausting memory. I needed to clear my head, to escape the suffocating confines of my office and the endless corporate drama.Clara, my assistant, entered the room with her usual quiet efficiency. Her concern was evident in the way she placed a steaming cup of tea on my desk, her brows furrowed as she studied me.“Ma’am, you’ve been through a lot today. Maybe you should take some time to relax,” she suggested, her voice soft but firm.I glanced at her, appreciating her thoughtfulness. Clara had been a constant presence in my life recently, always willing to go the extra mile. But tonight, I needed solitude. “Thank you, Clara. I will. But I’ll be going alone,” I said, stan
Miranda’s POVThe sun dipped low in the sky as the car hummed softly beneath me, the city streets blurring past. My mind buzzed with unspoken thoughts, the sting of my earlier encounter with Mara still fresh. But there was no time to dwell on the past. I needed to focus on the present, on building the life Laila deserved. The Laila of this world, rich as she was, lived as though she had nothing—a sparse wardrobe, no fine jewelry, and not even the simple indulgence of a stylish bag. That was about to change. If I was to carry out my mission, I needed to look the part.“Driver, take me to Rosie’s Supermarket,” I ordered, my voice firm but calm. Rosie’s was reputed to be the best in London for high-end items, a haven for the elite.“Yes, ma’am,” the driver responded, steering the car toward the bustling shopping district.As we arrived, the vibrant lights of the supermarket illuminated the sleek facade, exuding opulence. I stepped out of the car, my heels clicking against the marble pave
Desmond’s POVThe restaurant was dimly lit, its ambiance meant to evoke comfort, but it did nothing to calm the storm brewing inside me. I sat at the far corner, nursing a glass of whiskey that did little to dull my anger. The termination email from the Emperor’s Company had been staring back at me on my phone all day, mocking me. The contract was gone—my lifeline, my safety net—ripped away by that insufferable woman, Laila.I clenched the glass tighter, the cold press of it against my palm grounding me as I thought of all the ways my carefully built empire was now at risk. The Emperor’s Company was the foundation of everything I had stolen... or, as I preferred to call it, earned. And Brenda—that useless woman—had made it worse.Brenda’s smug face flashed in my mind. My fiancée. The one person I thought I could manipulate to my advantage had sabotaged everything. Laila had slipped through my fingers at the gala because of her unnecessary jealousy and theatrics. I couldn’t even look a
Miranda’s POVI returned home that evening, the echoes of my encounter with Desmond and Brenda playing over and over in my head like a victorious symphony. Every little detail brought a sense of satisfaction that I couldn’t help but revel in. I loved seeing the shock etched on Brenda’s face when I snatched the jewelry she wanted right in front of her—especially when she didn’t recognize me. To her, I was someone else. Laila. And that’s exactly how I wanted it.Ending my ex-husband’s contract with my company, the one he so mercilessly stole from me by killing my husband, felt equally rewarding. Even though he was still profiting off what should’ve been mine, the thought of slowly dismantling his world piece by piece fueled me. It was only the beginning, and I had no intention of stopping.I stepped out of my car and walked briskly up the stairs to my apartment, a small grin tugging at my lips. It had been a long day, and all I wanted now was to relax and savor the first few victories i
Miranda’s POVI could have had those two hooligans killed if Nolan hadn’t shown up at the wrong moment. They had the audacity to try and murder me right in my own apartment, claiming no one hired them. Their words were laughable. Who else but Mara and her conniving mother could stoop so low? Of course, I had other enemies—plenty, in fact—but they were amateurs compared to those two serpents. The memory of their smug faces as they threw me down from my pedestal burned in my mind like an open wound.But Nolan... why was he hovering around me like a persistent plague? His presence was unsettling, to say the least. After what I’d been through, love was no longer an option for me—it was a game, a tool I could wield. And if Nolan was willing to follow me like a loyal puppy, I’d use him to make Mara burn with jealousy. Let her drown in the bitterness of what she could never have.“It’s not safe to stay here tonight,” Nolan said, interrupting my thoughts. His voice was low and firm, with a hi
Miranda's POVAs I stepped into my room, I slammed the door behind me, letting out a frustrated sigh. My hands trembled with a mix of anger and adrenaline after the heated encounter with Mara and her wretched mother. My stepmother’s words still echoed in my ears, laced with venom and the audacity to threaten me in my own home.I ran a hand through my hair, pacing the room like a caged lioness. My room, though modest, had become my sanctuary. Its warm, earthy tones and the faint scent of lavender candles I’d lit earlier offered me a shred of solace in a house that was anything but. But even here, I couldn’t shake off the suffocating tension that filled the mansion.Sitting down at my desk, I powered on my laptop. The faint hum of the machine was oddly soothing. Little did Mara or her mother know, I had installed hidden cameras in their room months ago. It wasn’t paranoia—no, it was survival. The cameras gave me eyes and ears on the people who wanted me gone. Every whisper, every scheme
Miranda/Laila’s POVI sat at my desk, sipping my morning coffee while poring over the stack of documents my secretary, Clara, had brought in earlier. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee swirled around me, momentarily easing the tension that had built up over the past few days. I needed this—something to ground me amidst the chaos. Yet, even as I tried to focus, I couldn’t shake the feeling that trouble was brewing. It always was.The knock on my office door pulled me out of my thoughts. Clara stepped in, her face unusually tense, lips pressed tightly together. Before she could speak, another figure emerged behind her. It was Mr. Williams, his usual stiff demeanor replaced by an unsettling smile. My brows furrowed slightly. This man had made his disdain for me clear from the moment I took over as CEO. What could he possibly want now?“Good morning, Miss Laila,” he said, his voice smooth, almost too friendly. “I hope I’m not disturbing you. I’m here to extend a formal invitation.”I plac
Miranda/Laila’s POVThey thought they knew everything, but I will show them they don’t. My stepmom, my stepsister, and even Mr. Williams—they planned it all to ensure I’d be molested. Foolish of them to forget I had other plans.Flashback...I was in my room, dressing up for the party. The crimson gown I wore clung to me perfectly, and I was just fastening a delicate gold chain around my neck when I overheard voices coming from Mara’s room. My hands froze, and I moved closer to the door, careful not to make a sound.“That drunk fool better go to room 101,” Mara said, her voice sharp and commanding. “Do you hear me? Room 101. Not 102. That’s my room. I don’t want any mistakes, Williams. If he messes this up, everything will fall apart!”I stood frozen for a second, her words sinking in like daggers. My heart thudded heavily, but a smirk soon spread across my face. They thought I was clueless, helpless even. They thought wrong.I crept back to my vanity, my mind already forming a plan.
Miranda's POVI had been waiting for this moment—this one perfect opportunity to settle the score with Brenda. It was almost poetic, really, that life had placed us here. On this set, acting out a scene where she played the mistress, the role she had so gleefully embraced in real life. My heart pounded with exhilaration as I stood across from her, knowing that this wasn’t just a scene to me.This was my revenge.Brenda stood there with that smug expression plastered on her face, her lips curled in a self-satisfied smile as she glanced my way. My stomach churned at the sight of her, but I swallowed the bile rising in my throat. I couldn’t lose my composure—not yet.Desmond, as clueless as ever, stood nearby, chatting with the director. His face was calm, his body relaxed. He didn’t have the faintest idea of what was about to happen. None of them did.“Alright, people,” the director barked, clapping his hands to get everyone’s attentio
**Miranda’s POV** The moment I stepped into the room, I knew she was there. Brenda’s scent lingered, faint yet distinct, like a trail she couldn’t help but leave behind. Desmond was already on the bed, feigning sleep, but I could see right through him. His breathing wasn’t steady; his body language was far from relaxed. I’ve known Desmond for years, long enough to tell when he’s lying. And right now, he wasn’t just lying—he was panicking. I played my part, though. I smiled at him softly, pretending to buy his half-hearted excuse. “Tired, are we?” I asked, walking across the room, my heels clicking against the tiled floor. He muttered something incoherent and shifted slightly, his back turned to me. I made no effort to press him further. Instead, my eyes flickered toward the closet. I didn’t need to open it to confirm what I already knew—Brenda was inside. Her perfume was unmistakable, a suffocating sweetness that always made my stomach churn. How pre
Desmond’s POV The air inside my office was heavy with tension as I returned from dinner with Laila. Her sweet smile lingered in my mind, but not for the reasons she might have hoped. It wasn’t love or admiration that drove my interest in her—it was the plan. The perfect, calculated plan to take over her father’s company, just like I had taken Miranda’s. Miranda, my late wife, who had trusted me blindly. She never saw it coming. I leaned back in my chair, running my hand through my hair, as the memories of how I had betrayed Miranda flooded back. I had manipulated her into loving me, all the while scheming to take her company. And when she became an obstacle, I removed her. It was a necessary evil. Now, with Laila back in London and running her late father’s empire, I saw my next golden opportunity. But she was no fool. Laila was sharper, more resilient, and deeply protective of her father's legacy. Winning her trust—and her hand—would require more finesse. I couldn’t afford to ru
Miranda’s POVThe air in the restaurant was heavy, suffocating almost, as I tried to keep my composure. Across from me, Desmond sat with a grin that stretched too wide, his eyes brimming with an almost childlike excitement. It was nauseating. He leaned closer, his voice cutting through the low hum of the other diners."Miss Layla," he began, his tone overly sweet, "please tell me—you are considering canceling your engagement with Nolan, right? I mean, that would be the best decision you’ve ever made. I’m ready for you. I’ve always been ready."The audacity of his words made me laugh, a short, bitter sound that escaped before I could stop it. If only he knew the truth. If only he understood the depth of his betrayal and the ruin he brought to my life before this second chance. If not for fate intervening, I would’ve been dead by now, buried six feet under while he danced on my grave.Still, I kept my expression neutral, letting my fingers trace the rim of the coffee cup before me. His
Miranda’s POVDesmond blocked my path as I exited the restaurant, his expression plastered with a self-satisfied smirk that did nothing but annoy me. His desperation to hold my attention was written all over his face, and for someone who claimed to have everything under control, he was anything but subtle.“Miss Laila,” he started, his tone a mix of pleading and practiced charm. “I was hoping we could talk.”I didn’t even slow down. “About what, Desmond?” I shot back, barely glancing at him. My voice was calm, but the annoyance was evident in my tone. “Your lies? Your desperate attempts at flattery? Or the chaos you bring wherever you go?”He flinched slightly but quickly masked it with another charming smile. “No, nothing like that,” he said, walking alongside me as I headed into the shopping mall next door. “I just wanted to make things clear between us. I feel like you misunderstand me.”I let out a short, humorless laugh. “Misunderstand you? I don’t think I do. You’re transparent,
**Miranda’s POV** As Desmond blocked my path to the restaurant door, his face wore an expression that was both pleading and frustratingly insincere. I had no interest in entertaining his antics any longer. His lies, his deceit—they were suffocating, and I wasn’t about to let him drag me further into his web of manipulation. He raised a hand slightly, almost as if to stop me physically, but thought better of it. “Miss Laila, please,” he began, his tone low and falsely apologetic. “Let me explain. This is all just a misunderstanding.” I folded my arms across my chest, my lips curling into a faint smile that didn’t reach my eyes. “A misunderstanding? You hitting Brenda was a misunderstanding? Or was it when you suddenly professed love at first sight after meeting me for all of ten minutes?” He blinked, as though stunned by my words. “It’s not like that,” he insisted. “She’s been obsessive. She’s made things unbearable for me, and I had to—” I cut him off with a wave of my hand.
Miranda’s POVDesmond. His name alone was enough to make my skin crawl. A green snake in green grass—a perfect idiom for the kind of man he was. I had known him far too long, loved him far too deeply, and been betrayed by him in ways I could never forget. We had been married for three years, and in those years, I had learned one undeniable truth: Desmond was a master of deception.As Clara and I arrived at the restaurant for lunch, she quickly excused herself to find us a table, leaving me to my thoughts. My gaze naturally scanned the parking lot, and there he was. Desmond. And with him was someone I had hoped never to see again—Brenda.My lips curled into a bitter smile as I watched her wrap her arms around him from behind. The smug grin on her face screamed familiarity, intimacy, and arrogance. Desmond, ever the performer, immediately began pushing her away as soon as he noticed me. His face morphed into one of exaggerated annoyance, but I could see righ
Miranda's POVNolan and Desmond—two men entangled in a dangerous web they believed I couldn’t untangle. Little did they know, I had no intention of being anyone’s pawn. They thought I was weak, someone who could be manipulated, but this time, I held all the cards. I wasn’t seeking love, not from them or anyone. My reincarnation wasn’t a gift for a second chance at romance—it was for revenge.Sitting in my office, Nolan’s words still echoed in my mind. His warning was genuine, his concern palpable. “Desmond is dangerous,” he’d said. I didn’t need his caution. Desmond was my ex-husband, the man who had betrayed and murdered me in my past life. I knew his motives better than anyone.Nolan, on the other hand, intrigued me. There was a sincerity in his voice that made it difficult to brush him off completely. Unlike Desmond, his intentions didn’t seem malicious—at least not yet. But sincerity wasn’t enough to earn my trust. Both men had their sights set on my f
Miranda's POV They were all just barking like dogs, their voices blending into a cacophony of anger and frustration. I stood there, unfazed, watching the chaos unfold. My stepmother and stepsister were putting on a show for everyone in the restaurant, their faces contorted with rage. To me, it was amusing. No matter how loudly they yelled, it didn’t matter. I was prepared for them—more than they realized.But since this was a public place, I knew I couldn't fully indulge in what I wanted to say or do. Still, a part of me itched to stay. I wanted to see just how far they’d go. As I turned to leave, Desmond called out, his voice laced with a desperate apology.“Lila, wait,” he said, stepping toward me.I paused and looked back at him. His expression was conflicted, a mixture of guilt and determination etched across his face. I raised a brow, waiting for him to speak. Before he could, my stepmother rushed toward us, her face red with fury.